A CYCLIST is stressing the importance of wearing a helmet after his life was saved by one.

Erik Selby, 29, was cycling along Madeira Drive, Brighton, on Sunday when he was hit by a car.

He said the vehicle car drove out of Duke’s Mound and did not see him.

He said: “I flew straight into the windscreen, spun around quite a few times and eventually landed about two metres in front of his car.”

He said the most frightening moment was realising what had happened and that, potentially, his life may never be the same.

Paramedics, who arrived on the scene shortly after the incident, said Erik could have died had it not been for his cycle helmet.

Erik, who lives in Peacehaven, said: “The paramedics were surprised, after seeing the car and bike, that I had no immediately obvious broken bones or head injuries.

“They said it was clear that the helmet could certainly have saved my life in this situation, especially as I hit my head so many times.”

Erik came away from the accident with internal bruising and multiple soft tissue injuries.

He is now on bed rest and has been referred to a physiotherapist.

But he now wants to help fellow cyclists see the importance of wearing a helmet.

He said: “I’ve been an advocate of wearing a helmet for pretty much my entire life.

“Other than a minor pothole incident a few years ago, this is the first time my helmet has saved my life. However silly you feel, however much it may ruin your hair, I could not stress highly enough the importance of wearing a helmet, even if you are in a cycle lane, which I was at the time of this accident.

“You may have ten years of no incidents, but you never know, one day out of 365 that helmet may just save your life.”

Erik said he thought the car driver probably also suffered emotional trauma from the incident and that “life is too short” to be angry towards people.